Cycling Tour in Taiwan 10 Days - $2760

-Fully Inclusive Escorted Tour-

Day 1 - Departure from Australia / Arrive TaiwanDeparture from Australia, flying with China Airlines' CI52 12:55, arrival at Taipei (Taoyuan) International Airport at approx 7:10PM, you will be met by your friendly Taiwan Holidays guide who will transfer you to your hotel where you will spend one night. You will be able to use the free time to explore the vibrant night life of Taipei, e.g. 101 Building, Night Markets... etc.Hotel: Seasons Hotel Classic, Taipei(3*)Day 2 - Taipei City Tour(B/L/D)After breakfast, you will visit Taipei City Tour's must see places. Sightseeings for today are: Presidential Building (Pass by), Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and National Palace Museum (has the largest Chinese art and painting collection). Lunch will be held at the famous restaurant inside the museum where the chef was favored by the ex-President Chen. After lunch, we will visit Martyrs' Shrine. And then depart for the Taiwanese Handicraft Centre. In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to LIn An-Tai Historical Home. Tonight you explore other vibrant night life of Taipei by visiting: Lung Shan Temple, and visit the most famous landmark of Taiwan, "Taipei 101 Tower", it is the world second tallest building. See other suggestions on what to do in Taipei click here. Hotel: Seasons Hotel Classic, Taipei(3*)

Day 3 - Taipei / Chiufen Village / Hualien (B/L/D)After breakfast, you will be picking up by your guide at hotel lobby then drive to Norther east Taiwan to visit the Chiufen Village, Pitou Cape, and Nanya Rock Formation. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Hualien by coach bus. Then arrive at Hualine City, where you will spend the night at this 'unspoiled land of Taiwan'. Hotel: China Trust Hotel, Hualien (5*)

Day 4 - Cycling at Taroko Gorge (B/L/D)

-Taroko->Tienshang: 19km
-Speed: 10km/hr (need 2 hours); 5km/hr (need 4 hours)
-Elevation: Taroko 60m, Tienshang 480mAfter breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Taroko Gorge, to start your cycling ride at the magnificent Taroko Gorge, "Seven Wonders of Asia". The cycling trip will be lead by a professional cycling leader who will show you to stops at Green Water, Marble Bridge, Tunnel of Nine Turns, Jinyen Bridge, Swallow Caves, Pulowan, Eternal Spring Shrine, and Taroko Gateway. After a whole day at the Taroko Gorge, you will have a delicious dinner at the local Aborigines restaurant, then transferred to your hotel. Hotel: Grand Formosa Taroko(5*)

Day 5 - Taroko Gorge / East Coast Scenic Area / Chihpen (B/L/D)
Today, after breakfast, you will visit the East Coast Scenic Area, stops will be made at Pachi Scenic Lookout, Stone Steps, Caves of the Eight Immortals, Stone Umbrella, Sanhsientai, and Siaoyehliu. In the late afternoon, you will be transferred to the Taitung's Chichpen Hot Spring Area, to soothe our aching limbs at a 5 star natural hot spring resort.Hotel: Hoya Hot Spring Resort, Chihpen(3*)

Day 6 - Taitung / Kaohsiung City (B/L/D)
After breakfast, drive to Kaohsiung, visit the second largest city in Taiwan, Kaohsiung City. During your Kaohsiung City Tour, you will visit Spring & Autumn Pavilionsm, and the Former British Consilate. The highlight for many visit Taiwan is a visit to the local night markets. This evening, you will be amazed at the bargains, food, snacks, and culture that a Taiwanese night market will offer you. Hotel: Holiday Garden Hotel, Kaohsiung(5*)

Day 7 - Kaohsiung / Tainan / Sun Moon (B/L/D)This morning you will depart for the oldest city in Taiwan, Tainan City, which showcases Taiwan's varied cultures through its lively temples, traditional cuisines and colonial remnants. Sightseeings includes: Anping Fort, Chih-Kan Tower, and Koxinga Shrine. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Sun Moon Lake by coach. Tonight you will stay at one of the most unique resort in the area, which is the only resort of this kind in the Asia. Hotel: Richforest Resort, Sun Moon Lake (Mountain View Room)(4*)Day 8 - Cycling at Sun Moon Lake / Taipei (B/L/D)

-Sun Moon Lake: 33kmToday, after breakfast, you will be transferred to the Sun Moon Lake for a whole day of cycling in the area. Some of the sightseeings include: Shihser Harbour, Wenwu Temple, Peacock Garden, Tse-En Pagoda, Holy Monk Shrine, Toucher Dam, and Suihser Dam. In the afternoon, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Taipei City. Tonight, if you are still interested, you can explore more parts of the vibrant night life of Taipei. Click here for more suggestions on what to do while you are in Taipei. Hotel: Seasons Hotel Classic, Taipei(3*)

Day 9 - Taipei / Departure (B/X/X)
This morning, You can have a sleep in after the late night (if you went to one of the late night market or night clubs in Taipei), or you can rise up and early to have breakfast, and use the only free time during this tour to explore further more on Taipei City. Taipei is a shopholic's heaven. You can find all sorts of bargain to all the world famous brands at one shopping district. You can catch the MRT to many parts of the city, e,g. Ximending, Xingyi Shopping District, East Chungxiao Area for shopping. See some suggestions by click here. About 7PM in the evening, you will be transferred to the Taipei International Airport for flight back to Australia at 22:55PM.

Day 10 - Arrive Australia
The flight will arrive Sydney approximately before 11AM.

Cycling Video at Sun Moon Lake

A Practical Guide to Bicycle Touring in Taiwan

Taiwan was recently ranked by Lonely Planet as one of the top destinations to discover in 2012. We couldn’t agree more.
Great scenery, reasonable prices and a variety of climatic zones make Taiwan an excellent bicycle touring destination. Surprisingly, Taiwan sees few foreign visitors. This is one spot in Asia well off the banana pancake trail.

Taiwan is a sweet potato shaped island just off the coast of China. It is home to around 23 million people, most of who live on the west coast.
The center of the country is very mountainous, with 100 peaks over 3,000 metres. The highest is Jade Mountain (Yu Shan 玉山) at 3,952 m (12,966 ft).

Not only is this the highest mountain in Taiwan, but all East Asia.

When to go bicycle touring in Taiwan

You can go bicycle touring in Taiwan pretty much year round.

The climate varies depending on elevation and whether you’re in the north or south. Fall and spring are probably the best times to visit overall. Rain can fall at any time of the year, so make sure you’re prepared.

Summers can be sweltering hot, but would be a good time to escape to the mountains and tour on one of the three cross-island highways.

We cycle toured Taiwan in late November and the weather was almost perfect. A little rainy and cool in the north, but warm and sunny further south.

Taiwan is a good choice for a short bicycle touring holiday or as part of a longer Asia tour.

Biking in Taiwan can be as easy or as difficult as you want to make it. If you want a challenge, hit the mountains and cycle one of the cross island roads.
If you want to take it a little easier, stick to biking the quiet roads of Taiwan’s east coast.

All in all, cycling Taiwan poses few difficulties. You rarely have to cycle long distances without services, roads are in good condition and the country is safe enough that you can camp just about anywhere.

Highlights:

A dip in one of Taiwan’s many hot springs.
A visit to picturesque Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) – nestled at 762 m (2,500 ft) in the hills of Nantou County.
A ride through Takoro Gorge and a night camping in amongst the stunning limestone formations.
A food-fest worthy of a hungry cyclist at any of Taiwan’s numerous night markets.